Monday, May 22, 2017

Ps 143 3 The enemy pursues me,
he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in darkness
like those long dead.
4 So my spirit grows faint within me;
my heart within me is dismayed.
The Psalmist has suffered some king of physical trauma or trouble from the schemes of his enemy's. This trouble has put him on his back. He is unable to get up and begin his daily routine. He is comparing his terrible pain with Gods promise to descend lower than the lowest experience in life. Gods hand is always under the worse experiences of His elect. Ps 37 23 If the LORD delights in a man's way,he makes his steps firm;24 though he stumble, he will not fall,for the LORD upholds him with his hand." The elect live in a world where there is a fierce spiritual battle. When Christ descended from His throne in His incarnation the scripture compares this to descending into hell. The world is run by Satan. The bible calls this the course of the world. The power is not from evil men who are in darkness but its from the evil forces in the heaven-lies that use the system of man to turn Gods government upside down.
This is why we face opposition that is too strong for us.Ps 18 16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;he drew me out of deep waters.17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,from my foes, who were too strong for me." The system of this world is on the level that is beyond our control. This is why there are times when our security is reduced by the size of the opposition. Our trust in God is shaken. We must understand that the real world is Gods heavenly armies fighting against the forces of evil in the heaven-lies. We are caught in a universal struggle of mystical forces. Here the Psalmist feels overwhelmed by the opposition and he is comforted in the promise that if Gods judgement depended upon man then the Psalmist would have no hope. But God lowers Himself below our lowest experiences because He has provided us with a promise that He will never leave us or forsake us in His covenant. Ps 94 14 For the LORD will not reject his people;he will never forsake his inheritance.15 Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,
and all the upright in heart will follow it."
The Psalmist is teaching that when we face opposition or injury that makes us feel powerless that we are experiencing a world that is disjointed. Our hopelessness is brought about by a world where everyone is unable to walk uprightly. The world has gone astray from Gods law. When men sin they create violence in society. Every sin against God is an attack on mans neighbor. When men sin they violate the rights of their neighbor. The Psalmist is saying that God is not taken by surprise or thwarted in His judgements. God has decreed all things and has judged the world so that He has recreated complete unity in His pronouncements. He blesses some men and He curses others. We are in need of complete deliverance. He is saying that God always promises to deliver us completely. He will reorder our lives so that we will experience His judgement coming together with His protection of us.
This is why God has gifted us with the Holy Spirit. He is the advocate who is the perfect spokesman for us that brings us complete deliverance. He says 143 10b " may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." Here the Psalmist is praying that the Spirit is the person who acts to bring about Gods blessing and cursing. The Spirit speaks for us as if Christ was walking in our path. This is why the Psalmist commands the Lord to send the Spirit to create his full deliverance. 11 For your name's sake, O LORD , preserve my life;in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;destroy all my foes,for I am your servant." When we are opposed we must not faint or lose heart. But we must resist in the confidence that God will come and remove all our opposition. He will make it so that we can walk firmly in this life.

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